Loose-leaf binder



June l0, 1947. A. M. MARTIN LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 29, 194s 3 Sheets-Sheet l W Oy A .n y. 9 2 @y 9 .t H, /wa

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June 1o, 1947. A, M, MARTIN 2,421,799

Loosn LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 29, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented `une 10,A i947 UNITED STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE LOOSE-LEAFIBINDER Alfred M. Martin, mfg-Biaggi nl Application January 29, 1943, uSerial N0. 473,933

This invention relates to i loose leaf binders `more `particularly of the type Ashown in my Patent No. 1,269,479 f Junell, 1918, in which a pair `ofloppositely disposed angularly openable prongholding parts are hinged together on a'central longitudinally extending hinge so that one of the `prong-holding parts may be moved a limited .dista-nce longitudinally of the other prong-holding-part` whereby record sheets impaled on the prongs -in overlapping relationshipto display a `margin 4thereof may be shifted on one side of :the binder to insert 4or remove a sheet. In my .co-pending application Serial No.A 338,063 which has matured as Patent No. 2,365,643, I disclosed and broadly claimed means for locking the prong- Aholding aparts. in Ipartially open position while `permitting shifting of` the parts from out of normal oppositely disposed position to normal oppo. Asitely disposed position without releasing said locking means and for `locking the parts against shifting upon shifting from the out of normal position to the normal position.

.Among `other objects, .the present invention laims to present animproved and simplified binder of this 4type `and in which unitary` and compact position against further opening movement, while,

in. the partiallyopen position, permitting-rela- .i tive longitudinal slidingof the parts in either directionlwithout release ef ,i the mechanism, `the :mechanism vatthe same time normally inhibiti ing suchrelative sliding movement from the normalfoppositely disposed` position of the parts to the shifted positionnnthe partially open .posiftion `-of the parts and positively prohibiting lsuch u sl'iiftingin,the` fully closed position of the parts.

mechanism is provided for` releasably locking `the parts in` fully `closed `or `inipartially open For' further simplification and saving of metal, v

the present binder is advantageously formed largely of wood orotherfibrous or non-metallic material, the use of 4metal being in this instance limited to' such parts as the prongs, locking Figure `1 isA a `partial 'plan` View of the binder leaking at the inside thereof with' the prong-z holding "parts 'in' fully `closed l position and the covers"`dpen,"the' `covers `being `broken away for simplification ofthe View and other parts being .section for `clearness of description. Thisgurc also indicates by a dotted line'eXten-- inthe position as shown in Fig.,4;

A non-'warping characteristics. shown' securedto the bases 22 and23 as by nails vsion an l alternative frelatively lilongitudinally shifted position whichis possible when the parts arevpartially `or fully opened;

`Figure 2 is a longitudinalsectipnal view taken on the line 2-2 of l, and also of Fig. 3;`

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on the linea-3 0f-Fig. 1; l"

Figure 4 is `a cross-section somewhat similar to Fig. 3 `but `showing-the` parts ,in partially open position; l i .Figure 5`is an end View of the binder looking at 4the lower-end of Fig. 1 but showing the'` parts in a fullyv open position; Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the parts `'Figure '7 is a still more fragmentary somewhat .diagrammatical' View of the parts shown inFg. `6 withthe locking mechanism in releasedpositionso that theparts may be fully opened;

Figure 81is a plan view somewhat similar'to Fig. .6 but sh'owingithe parts'in relatively' longil-itudinally'shifted position while still' looked in 'partially openiposition;

' Figure 9 is a fragmentary"cross-section taken Yon the broken line 9-9 of Fig." 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on the line Ill- I0 of Fig. 8 and of parts Figure 11 isa view somewhat similar to FigflO i but showing the locking mechanism in released position whereby to permit full openingV of `the parts when the parts are in longitudinally shifted position; Y i a Figure `12 is a reduced side elevational entire View of y,one of the prong-holding parts, in this finstance` the left-hand part looking atthe `latter 4from thehinge'side of the part," a corresponding hinge-[of thek adjacent part being indicated in Aseparated relation'in this ig-ure.

\ with the mechanism in unlocked position; `and Figure14 is' a fragmentaryl sectional view of one 451o`f the partsshowing `secureme'ntof a A'hinge leaf line'IA-'Mlof Fig. 1. v* w f therein and being a partial section taken on the Referring in.A detail? to vthe drawings,v the numerals V2li` and 12|'` indicate A,the 1 prong-.holding parts generallyxin this instance, and whichin accordancewiththe present invention, comprise a pair of Vwooden bases 22 and 23, each having an .upstanding side` 24 formed as here shown of' wood or fibrous laminationsforzenhanced strength and The sides 24 are 25, preferably staggered for enhanced strength of attachment. Each prong-holding part and 2| of the binder and the nails securing its parts together is desirably covered as in this instance by a fabric-like material 26, such as imitation leather, which is continued in two plies at the upper end. of each side to cover the cover members 2 of the binder, the lplies of the fabric as at 28 between the covers and the sides forming an articulate connection between the covers 2'| and the sides 24, the core portions 21a of the covers being desirably of a heavier material such as press board to give the covers rigidity,

At the inner faces of the sides 24 which extend above the bases 22 and 23, each side carries a series-of longitudinally spaced apart prongs 29 and 39 alternating on the parts respectively and arranged to more or less overlap as the binder` is fully closed or opened. The prongs are carried in this instance by a metal plate 3|, there being several prongs on a plate and these plates are shown secured as by rivets 32 to the sides of the prong-holding parts, the rivets 32 also advantageously reinforcing the attachment of the fabric covering '26 to the binder.

Along their lower adjacent corners, the bases 22 and 23 are shown kerfed as at 33 inwardly and longitudinally to receive hinge leaves 34 for the part 22 and hinge leaves 35 for the part 2,3. To effect a tight fit of the hinge leaves in the wooden parts, the kerfs 33 advantageously first receive strips of fibrous material 36, in overlying relationship in each kerf, and a hinge leaf 34 or 35, as the case may be, is forced into the kerf between the fiber strips 36, 'which thus serve somewhat as shirns to center the leaf and prevent chattering of the leaf in the kerf. To further secure the leaf in the kerf, skewers 3l are shown driven into the wood of the binder part, as best shown in Fig. 14, and through piercings 3,8 preformed in the hinge leaves, the heads 39 of the skewers being somewhat countersunk in the wood and being smoothly concealed by the overlying fabric covering 26.

The leaves 34 carry the usual hinge Vsleeves'4ll and 4| and the hinge leaves 35 carries the usual hinge sleeve 42. In this instance, as best shown in Fig. 12, there are three of these pairs of hinge leaves spaced longitudinally of the binder, a pair consisting of a hinge leaf 34 and a hinge leaf 35, with the hinge sleeve 42 on the hinge leaf 35, interposed between the hinge sleeves 49 and 4| of the hinge leaf 34. Pintle means are provided such as the hinge rod 43, which is not shown in Fig. 12 but is seen in other figures of the drawings (see Fig. 2) and is of substantially the length of the binder, passing through all the pairs of aligned hinge sleeves. To secure the hinge rod 43 the tips of the end-most hinge sleeves may be slightly crimped over the rod as at 45, Figs. 2, and 5.

The hinge sleeve 42 is enough shorter than the distance between the hingel sleeves 4,0 and 4|, in each case, so that the prong-holding parts of the binder may shift relatively longitudinally, as indicated in dotted lines at 44, Fig. 1, a distance equal to the exposed margins of the record sheets which are to be impaled upon the prongs 29 and 39, Vthus to accommodate the removal or insertion of a sheet in theusual manner well known with respect to shift binders of this type.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the locking means, as here shown, for the prong-holding parts, will now be described in detail. On the prong-holding part 29, in this instance, centrally longitudinally of this part, is'- carried a locating plate 46 fastened to the wood of the prong-holding part as by nails 47. Near its edge margining the mating edges of the two prong-holding parts 2l] and 2 I, the locating plate 46 is apertured at each end as at 48 (Fig. 9) to threadedly receive screws 49 which further secure the locating plate to the prong-holding part 29 and pass down through the body of the latter, advantageously to have their tips received in pre-formed piercings as at 59, in the central hinge leaf 34 of the binder, thus serving further to secure the parts.

It is arranged that when the screws 49 contact the hinge leaf 34 the heads of the screws 49 are spaced above the locating plate 45, providing room therebeneath for a floating support 5| for a bridge member 52 of the locking mechanism. The floating support 5| is apertured at each end as at 53 to freely pass the unthreaded portion of the Shanks of the screws 49 therethrough, these apertures being slightly oversize for the diameter of the screw shank and thus permitting ready rocking movement of the floating support 5| limited only by the heads of the screws 49.

The bridge member 52 is secured transversely to its floating support 5| as by spot-welding at 54 and is continued rearwardly therefrom to overlie a wellhole 55 in the prong-holding part 29 into which is first dropped a compression coil spring 56, the upper end of which bears against the under face of the bridge/'member 52 and urges therear end of the bridge outwardly. To retain these parts in engagement the bridge member is advantageously bent downwardly at its rear end as at 5l, and, in the depressed position of this bent portion, the latter is received in a recess 58 provided jointly in the locating plate 46 and the woodl of the prong-holding part 2D as best seen in Fig. 3. At its distal end the bridge member 52 has a down-turned lip 5.9 and the spring 56 thus urges the` lip 59 toward the adjoining prong-holding part 2| (or perpendicularly to the hinge 43), the bridge member being advantageously angled slightly as at 69 Vin furtherance of this latter result.

Upon the adjoining prong-holding part 2|, opposite the locating plate 46, is carried another locating plate 6| for the other elements of the locking mechanism. Since these include elements which are not only longitudinally slidable with respect to the bridge 52 but slidable with respect to each other, the locating plate 6| carries at each end straps 62 and 63, under which and upon the locating plate 6| slides the lock bar 64. At each side of the lock bar the straps 62 and 63 are depressed as at 62a and 63a respectively to have face to face contact with the locating plate 6| and these elements are drilled as at 65 to pass therethrough screws 3 6 which secure the locating plate (il with its superposed straps 62 and 63 rmly to the prong-holding part 2|. To 'further secure the straps and locating plate together, spot-weldings 57 may lbe made adjacent 4the drill holes 65.

The locking bar 64` is urged in one direction by the helical compression spring |58y which at one end is anchored to a screw 69 threaded into the prong-,holding part 2| and at its other end abuts the locking bar, which has a tit '|9 to receive the coils of the spring and maintain this engagement. Inv compression of the spring, the coils hug the screw head 59 and are kept in linethereby.`

Between the straps 62 and 63 the locating plate 6| carries a latch member or device comprising jointlya pair of latch member portions 1| and 12. The latch member 1| is fixed on the locating plate 6| aslby beingllvvelded` thereto as at-13 yabutting the strap 83, while the latch member 12 isl movable between the latch member 1I and the strap 62, the latch member 12 being carried on the under face of the lock bar 64 and spot-welded'theretoas at 14. Thus the flxedilatch member 1| forms a stopat one end for the movablelatch member 12, and the strap B2 forms a stop at the other end of its movement for the movable latch member.A The-lock bar 64 is offset as at 15 to provide space between it and the locating plate 6I to receive the movable latch member 12.0 The strap 93 is shownelevatedabove the strap E2 where the lock bar 64 passes thereunder and here the lock bar 64 carries a cam or elevator block 18, movable with the lock bar, the purpose of which will be later explained.

In the normal position of the lock bar S4 to which it is urged by the spring 68, the latch member portions 1| and 12 are in abutment. When the prong-holding parts 28 and 2| are in fully closed position as in Figs. 1 and 3, at which time they are also in normal oppositely disposed relationship as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the bridge member 52 spans the latch member 12 and the lip 59 catches on the rear edge 11 of the `latch member 12. rIhus the binder is locker in fully closed position. At the same time, to prevent shifting or' the prong-holding parts longitudinally in this fully closed position of the binder, the lip 59 longitudinally abuts the xed latch member 1l.

When it is desired to open the prong-holding parts from their fully closed position, the lock bar 84 is actuated by the clerk or other user. For this purpose, the lock bar B4 has attached thereto an actuating shank 18 which extends to the proximal end of the binder and terminates in a thumb-piece 19. Adjacent this end, the shank 18 passes slidably under a guide 88 secured as by screw 8| to the prong-holding part 2|. When the thumb-piece 19 is pressed, against the force of the spring (i8, the lock bar shank 18 and with L' it the locking bar B4 moves in the direction of the arrow 82 (Figs. '1 and 13), separating the locking edge 11 of the latch member 12 longitudinally from the lip 59 of the bridge 52. That is to say, since the latch member 12 moves 1ongitudinally when the thumb-piece 19 is pressed, it is moved out of transverse or locking alignment with the bridge 52.

When the bridge 52 has compressed the spring 58 in its well-hole 55, as shown in Fig. 3, and the floating support of the bridge is tilted to the limit of its movement away from the prongholding part 2l as determined 'by the screws 49, the spring 58 cannot be accidentally further compressed to unintentionally release the locking mechanism. To release the latter, the thumb-piece 19 must be pressed, and when this is done as already pointed out, the prong-holding parts 28 and 2| are permitted to open. If it is not desired to open these parts fully, the thumbpiece,` after being pressed, is immediately released, and, as the binder opens, the lip 59 of the bridge will catch on the upstanding ange 83 of the latch member portion 12, the latch member having now returned from the position shown in Fig. 1, under the iniiuence of the spring 88, to the position shown in Fig. 6, that is, into transverse alignment with the bridge '52. The flange 83, it lwill be seen, is at the end of the latch member 12 adjacent the other part of the binder 28 and the parts12|lzlandy Ztare thus held lin `partially open position, .as shown imFgsJ 4; and 6." At this time, the parts 28 f and '2 I.I are "positively but releasably held against relative longitudinal movement by longitudinal abutment of the bridge lip 59 with another upstanding flange or locking surface 84 carried by the fixed latchzmember :1|. Tothis end, the flanges 83 and 84are'relatively staggered-- transverselyof lthe binder, the iiange 83 of themovable latch membersportion 12'being off-set, to the extent'of.substantially'the thickness of thexlip. 59, furthertoward the prongcarrying part 20, So that the'binder may `be readily closed, if desired-from this position shown inFig. 6 backtoxthe .position shown in Fig. 13, without vactuation of the thumb-piece 19, the parts are` arranged so that the lip 59 will not catch on the lock bar 64, as best seen in Fig. 4. Thus when theparts are pressed together from this position, the lip rides readily over the lock bar 64. The bridge` 52, being now depressed at its lip end by the spring 56, will re-engage the locking .edge..11, of the movable latch member 12.

If, however, it be desired to open the binder further from the partiallyopen position shown in Fig. 4, to the fully open position shown in Fig. 5, the thumb-piece 19 isagain pressed, and the lock bar is again moved longitudinally against th'e action of the spring 68 and in the same direction shown by the arrows 82 (Fig. '7 and Fig. 13) this time to move the flange 83 longitudinally of `the lip 59 and thus disengage these parts so that the lip `59 may pass through a. slot 8.5 now formed between the latchlanges 83 and 84, thus releasing the parts 20 and 2| for further opening movement. i

Following the present invention, it is not necessary to o-pen the binder to the fully open position shown in Fig. 5 in order to shift the prong carrying parts relatively and where-by one of these parts, such as the part 2|), may occupy the shifted position shown in dotted lines at 44 of Fig. 1. A marked advantage of the present invention is that while the prong-carrying parts 28 and 2| are normally held against accidental shifting when in partially open vposition as well as when in fully closed position, they may beso shifted when partially open without actuating the release mechanism, and this is readily accomplished by grasping the prongs 29 and 30 and manually moving the prong-carrying parts slightly together toward the fullyclosed position just sufcient so that the lip 59 of the `bridge52 is removed from longitudinal abutment with the flange 84 of the fixed latch member 1|. Thereupon, as shown in Fig. 8, the prong-carrying part 28 and with it the bridge 52 may be shifted in the direction shown by the arrow 86 and as indicated by the dotted lines 44, Fig. 1.

During this movement, the prong-carrying parts '28 and 2| are still prevented from opening to the :position shown in Fig. `5 by the fact that the ange 84 of the fixed latch member 1| acts as a stop against transverse movement of the bridge 52, the lip 59 now abutting the flange 84 transversely, as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, and abutting th'e strap 53 longitudinally as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, this being also the limit of movement in this instance of the. hinge sleeves 42 between the hinge sleeves 40 and 4I.

When, now, it is desired to` open the binder parts to the fully open position shown in Fig. 5,\to remove record sheets from the prongs or to insert record sheets thereon, and 4with say the prong-carrying parts in th'e shifted `position last described, the thumb-piece 19 is once more pressed to actuate the release mechanism and thereupon the locking bar 64 again moves in the direction of the arrow 82 against the force of the spring 68. At this juncture the cam block 15, already previously mentioned as being carried by the lock bar 64, comes into play to separate the lip 59 transversely from the latch flange 84. For this purpose, the cam block 16 at its forward end has a cam incline 81, normally underneath the strap 63 (see Figs. 6 and 10) which, as will be seen from the drawings (see Figs. 11 and 13), causes upward movement of the lip 59 from out of abutment with the latch flange 84. Since the cam block 16 is of a thickness substantially equivalent to the heigh'tof the latch flange 84 and since the lip 59 is caused by the cam incline 81 to ride up onto the main body of the cam or elevator block 16 and be thus lifted free of the flange 84, the prong-holding parts may be then opened to the position shown in Fig. 5.

To close the binder, the prong-holding parts 20 and 2| are preferably first shifted back from th'e out of normal oppositely disposed position to nor@ mal oppositely disposed position. This may be done whether the parts are in fully open position or in partially open position. If the parts be in partially open position they will be locked against further opening movement while still being readily slidable longitudinally from the shifted, or out of normal oppositely disposed position to the normally oppositely disposed or unshifted position, that is, from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the :position sh'own in Fig. 6, the arrangement of relative off-set of the flanges 83 and 84 not inhibiting sliding movement in this return direction. When the parts are again in normally oppositely disposed position as shown in Fig. 6, they are still locked against movement to a fully open position and the binder may be fully closed by again moving the prong-holding parts 20 and 2| angularly together to register the locking engagement of the lip 59 with the locking edge 11 of the movable latch member 12.

It is desirable that the prong-holding parts 20 and 2| should be incapable of being locked in the fully closed position when the prong-holding parts 29 and 2| are in the shifted position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, and, to this end, the xed latch member 1|, is advantageously longer transversely of the binder than th'e movable latch member 12. Conversely, to facilitate catching of the lip 59 on the edge 11 of the movable latch member 12 inthe unshifted position of the parts and when' it is desired to fully close the parts and to so lock the parts, the locating plate- 6I is desirably cut away beneath the path' of movement of the edge 11 as at 88.

The bridge member 52 constitutes a, single locking member on one of the prong-holding parts, the part '20, engageable with a member having portions 1| and 12 on` the other prong-holding part, or part 2|, to performall of the locking functions of thev device.

To limit movement of the lock bar 64, within th'e limits already described, andV for other advantageous purposes, the shank 18` of the lock bar is shown welded' thereto as at 89 so that the underhanging end 90 of the shank and the offset of the lock bar 6,4- will abut the other latch members when the lockbar 641s moved sufficiently to cause the gapA or slot 85 between the latch flanges 83 and 84 to be just enough longer than the width of the lip 59 to.permit the latter to pass .freely therethrough, as best seen in Fig. 7, and

also in the shifted position of the parts, to cause the cam block 16 to move under the lip 59 a suflicient distance to raise the lip above the flange 84 (Fig. 11).

It is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to details of construction here shown for illustrative purposes. Other modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the present disclosure. Furthermore, it is not intended that it be understood that all features of the present disclosure must be used conjointly, since it will be apparent to workers in the art that various combinations or sub-combinations may at times be advantageously employed.

The invention having been described, what is here claimed is:

1. In a loose leaf binder having a pair of oppositely disposed relatively opening prong-holding parts, the combination with means for guiding one of the parts for movement longitudinally with respect to the other, of locking mechanism for the parts comprising a latch member on one of the parts having a longitudinally slidable portion, a bridge member on the other prong-holding part having a lip engageable with said longitudinally movable latch portion in two places, in one place to maintain the prong-,holding parts fully closed and in another place to maintain the prong-holding parts partially open, said lip havingl longitudinal engagement with the latch portion which is not longitudinally movable also in two places to inhibit longitudinal movement of the lngitudinally movable prong-holding part with respect to the other, a cam movable with the longitudinallyv movable latchportion, said cam serving to disengagev the lip and latch portion which is not longitudinally, movable, a spring normally urging saidl longitudinally movable latch portionl into position for engagement with said lip, another spring urging said` bridge member toward said latch member, and means for moving the longitudinally movable latch portion and cam.

2. In a loose leaf binder having a pairof oppositely disposed relatively opening prong-holding parts, the combination with means for guiding one of the parts for movement longitudinally with respect to the other,Y of locking mechanism for the parts comprising a latch member on one of the parts having a longitudinallyY slidable portion, a bridge member on the other prong-hold ing part having a lip,v engageable with. said longitudinally movable latch portion in two places, in one place to maintain the prong-holding parts fully closed and in another place tov maintain the prong-holding parts partially open, said lip having longitudinal engagement with the latch portion which isnot longitudinally movable also in two places to inhibit longitudinal movement of the longitudinally movable prong-holding part with respect to the other, a springl normally urging said longitudinally movable latch portion into position f or engagement with said lip, another spring urging said bridge member toward said latch member, saidbridge being intermedially pivoted on a floating connection andy the last mentioned spring being a compression-spring urg- .ing the end of the bridge member oppositey said lip outwardly to tilt the bridge member inwardly at its lip end.

3; In a loose leaf binder having'` a pair of oppositely disposed relatively opening prong-holding parte hinged together on a central longitudinally extending hinge, the combination of locking mechanism for the part-s comprising a latch member on one of the parts longitudinally movable to locking and unlocking positions, `a bridge member on the other prong-holding part movable in a direction at right angles to said hinge and having a lip engageable with said longitudinally movable latch to maintain the prong-holding parts against opening movement, and a spring normally urging said longitudinally movable latch into position for engagement with said lip, another spring urging said bridge member toward said latch, said latch and lip when the latch is moved longitudinally to unlocking position being disengaged to permit opening lmovement of the parts.

4. In a loose leaf binder having a pair of oppoparts, the combination of locking mechanism for the parts comprising a latch member on one of the parts longitudinally movable to locking and unlocking positions, a bridge member on the other prong-holding part having a lip engageable with said longitudinally movable latch in two places, in one place to maintain the prongholding parts fully closed and in another place to maintain the prong-holding parts partially open, said latch and lip when the latch is moved longitudinally to unlocking position being disengaged to permit opening movement of the parts.

5. In a loose leaf binder having a pair of oppositely disposed relatively opening prong-holding parts hinged together on a central longitudinally extending hinge, the combination of locking mechanism for the parts comprising a latch member on one of the parts having a longitudinally movable portion and a xed portion, a bridge member on the other prong-holding part movable in a direction at right angles to said hinge and having a lip engageable with said latch member to maintain the prong-holding parts partially open, acam carried by the longitudinally movable latch portion for moving the bridge member to disengage the lip and latch to permit further opening movement of the parts, means actuating the cam, and springs associated with each of the bridge member and longitudi- 1 nally movable latch portion for normally urging said longitudinally movable latch portion and lip into engagement.

6. In a loose leaf binder having a pairof oppositely disposed relatively opening prong-holding parts, the combination with means for guiding `one of the parts for movement longitudinally with respect to the other, of partially open selectively releasable looking mechanism for the parts comprising means on one of the parts engageable withmeans on the other part, the said means being relatively slidable while inhibiting further opening movement of the parts when the parts are moved relatively longitudinally in either direction, and interengaging elements between the said means inhibiting said longitudinal movement of the parts when the parts are in normal oppositely disposed position, said interengaging elements comprising a bridge member having a lip on one of said means and transversely offset portions on the other said means, said lip and sitely disposed relatively opening prong-holding vone of the parts for movement longitudinally with respect to the other, of partially `open selectively releasable locking mechanism for the parts comprising means on one of the parts engageable with means on the other part, the said means being relatively slidable while inhibiting further opening movement of the parts when sliding from other than normal oppositely disposed position to normal oppositely disposed position, and interengaging elements between the said means inhibiting said longitudinal movement of theparts when the parts are in normal oppositely disposed position, said interengaging elements comprising a bridge member having a lip on one of said means and transversely oiset portions on the other said means, said lip and one of said transversely oiset portions having longitudinal abutment in the unshifted position of said prongholding parts, said bridge member carrying said lip being spring pressed toward said transversely offset portions.

8. In a loose leaf binder having a pair of oppositely disposed relatively opening prong-holding parts, the combination with means for guiding one of the parts for movement longitudinally with respect to the other, of partially open selectively releasable locking mechanism for the parts comprising means on one of the parts engageable with means on the other part, the said means being relatively slidable while inhibiting further opening movement of the parts when sliding from other than normal oppositely disposed position to normal oppositely disposed position, and interengaging elements between the said means inhibiting said longitudinal movement of the parts when the parts are in normal oppositely disposed position, said interengaging elements comprising a bridge member having a lip on one of said means and transversely offset portions on the other said means, said lip and one of said transversely offset portions having longitudinal abutment in the unshifted position of said prongholding parts.

9. In a loose leaf lbinder having a pair of oppositely disposed relatively opening prong-holding parts having a fully open and a fully closed position and a partially open position, the combination with means for guiding one of the parts for limited sliding movement longitudinally with respect to the other, of selectivelyreleasable locking mechanism for the parts comprising a single member on one of the parts engageable with an-l other member on the other part, the said members being relatively slidable while inhibiting opening movement of the parts from partially open to fully open position whensliding from other than normal oppositely disposed position to normal oppositely disposed position, interengagone of said transversely oiiset portions having i ing means between the members inhibiting said `longitudinal movement of the parts `when the parts are in normal oppositely disposed position in both the fully closed position and the partially open position of the parts, said locking mechanism being actuatable initially to permit opening movement of the prong-holding parts from fully closed position to partially open position and being further actuatable to permit further opening of the prong-holding parts from partially open position to fully open position, said locking mechanism having a unitary actuating bar common to both actuations, and connected with a member on the part opposite the part `which has the said single member.

10. In a loose leaf binder having a pair of oppositely disposed angularly relativelyv movable prong-holding parts having a fully closed position, a partially open position, and a fully open position, a hinge between the parts arranged for guiding one of the parts for limited shifting movement longitudinallywith respect to the other part to and from the normal oppositely disposed position of the parts, and means for holding said parts releasably from movement from partially open position` to fully open position during said longitudinal movements, that improvement therein wherein said means includes catch means inhibiting longitudinal movement of the prongholding parts from normal oppositely disposed position to out of normal oppositely disposed position when the parts are in partially open position, said catch means being varranged to be released by manual movement of the parts on said hingetow'ard the fully closed position of the parts during 'movement fromthe normal oppositely disposed position to the out of normal oppositely disposedposition while simultaneously prohibiting movement fromthe partially open position to the fully open position during said longitudinal shifting movement in either direction.

11. In a vloose leaf binder having a pair of oppositely disposed relatively opening prong-holding parts having a fully closed position, a partially open position, and afully open position, the comb ination with means for guiding one of the parts for shiftingmovement longitudinally with res peot to' the other, of locking mechanism for the parts comprising a latch member on one of the parts havinga longitudinally slidable portion, a bridge member on the other prong-holding part having a lip 'engageable with said longitudinally movable latch portion 'in tvvo places, in one place to maintain the prong-holding parts fully closed and in another place to maintain the prongholding parts partially op'en said lip having longitudinal engagement with the latch portion which 'is not longitudinauy movable also in two places to inhibit longitudinal movement of the longitudinally movable prong-holding part with respect to the other in the fully closed and partially open positions, respectively,k means for moving longitudinally the said longitudinally movable latch portion to effect opening movement of the prongholdingparts when the parts are in unshifted position, means for separating said lip from said nte-h portion which is' nctiofngitudinally movable to effect opening movement of the prong-holding parts when the parts are in longitudnally shifted position, and a common actuating member vfor both lastmentioned means, said lip and latch member normally releasably inhibiting opening movement of the parts from partially open position to fully open position durfing shifting movement of the parts in eitherd direction.

12. In .a loose leaf 4binder having a pair ofoppositely disposed vrelatively opening prong-holding parts, the combination with means for guiding one of the `parts for movement longitudinally with respect to the other, of locking mechanism for the parts comprising a latch member on one of the partshaving a longitudinally slidab'le portion, a bridgel member on the otherprong-holding part having a lip engagea-ble with said longitudinally movable latch portion in two places, in one place to maintain the prong-holding parts fully closed and in another place to maintain the prong-holding parts partially open, said lip having longitudinal engagement With the latch portion which is not longitudinally movable also in two places to inhibit longitudinal movement of the longitudinally movable prong-holding part with respect to the other, means for moving longitudinally the said longitudinally movable latch portion to effect opening movements of the prongholding parts when the parts are in unshifted position, and means 'for separating said lip from said latch portion which is not longitudinally movable to eiiect opening movement of the prongholding parts when the parts are in' longitudinally shifted position. Y A

13. In a loose leaf binder having a pairof oppositely disposed angularly opening prong-holding parts and having a fully closed position, a partially open position and. a fully open position, a hinge arranged 'for guiding one of the parts for limited longitudinal shifting movement relatively to the other to and from the normal oppositely disposed position of the parts whereby the parts have both a normal oppositely disposed and an out of normal oppositely disposed longitudinal position, means for holding said parts releasably against movement from partially open position to fully open position while the parts are in either longitudinal position foreffecting movement of the parts from out of normal oppositely disposed position of theV parts to normal oppositely disposed position or from normal oppositely disposed position to the out of normal oppositelydisposed position without releasingsaid means whereby throughout said last mentioned movements the said parts are held from moving from partially open position to fully open position, said means including positive releasable interengaging stop means on the parts brought into engagement by movement ofthe 'parts from out of normal oppositelydisposed position to normal oppositely `disposed position for releasably prohibiting longitudinal movement of the parts when the parts are in normaloppositely disposed position but with the parts partially open, said stop means being releasable without releasing the means for holding the partsvirorn opening from partially open position to fullyopen position.

14. In a loose leaf binder comprising a pairV of angularly opening oppositely disposed prongholding parts having a fully closed position, a partially open position and a fully open position, and having a medial hinge therebetween whereby one of the parts may be shifted a4 limited distancelongitudinally of the other vfrom the nor.. mal oppositelydisposedposition of the .parts to an out of normal oppositely disposed position, thatl improvement therein wherein there is a member on one of the parts engageable witha member on, the other part, the said members being relatively Vlongitudinally slidable while re leasably preventing opening movement of the parts from a partiallyopen position to a fully open position, and means carried jointly b y said members brought into longitudinal abutment by movement of said parts from fully closed position to partially open position for releasably preventing shifting of the parts from normal oppositely 'disposed position to vout of normal oppositely disposed position when Vthe vparts-are locked from opening from partially openr position to fully open position, said means being releasable by slight movement of the parts from partially open position toward the fully closedA position to place said means out of longitudinal abutment and to permit shifting of the binder to said out of normal oppositely disposed position while still preventing opening of the parts 13 from partially open position to fully open position.

15. In a loose leaf binder comprising a pair of angularly opening oppositely disposed prongholding parts having a fully closed position, a partially open position and a fully open position and having a medial hinge therebetween Whereby one of the parts may be shifted a limited distance longitudinally of the other from the normal oppositely disposed position to an out of normal o-ppositely disposed position, that improvement therein wherein there is a member on one of the parts and a two portion latch device on the other part for releasably preventing opening movement of the parts from a fully closed position to a partially open position and from a partially open position to a fully open position by engagement of lsaid member with said latch device in two places respectively spaced apart transversely of the parts, and means in longitudinal abutment on said member and latch device jointly for releasably preventing shifting of the parts from said normal oppositely disposed position to said out of normal oppositely disposed position in both the fully closed position of the parts and the partially open position of the parts.

16. In a loose leaf binder comprising a pair of angularly opening oppositely disposed prongholding parts having a fully closed position, a partially open position and a fully open position and having a medial hinge therebetween whereby one of the parts may be shifted a limited distance longitudinally of the other from the normal oppositely disposed position to an out of normal oppositely disposed position, that improvement therein wherein there is a lip carrying member on one of the parts and a two portion latch device `on the other part for releasably preventing opening movement of the parts from a fully closed position to a partially open position and from a partially open position to a, fully open position by engagement of said lip with said latch device in two places respectively spaced apart transversely of the parts, and means in longitudinal abutment on said lip and latch device `jointly for releasably preventing shifting of the parts from said normal oppositely disposed position to out of normal oppositely disposed position in the partially open-position of the parts.

17. In a loose leaf binder having a pair of oppositely disposed relatively opening prong-holding parts hinged together on a central longitudinally extending hinge, the combination of locking mechanism for the parts comprising a bridge member on one of the parts and a latch device having a ange on the other of said parts, said bridge member being movable in a direction at right angles to said hinge and having a lip engageable with said latch device iiange to maintain the prong-holding parts partially open, an elevator block movable in a direction longitudinally of said hinge and having a cam surface arranged upon said movement to move beneath said lip and lift the bridge member away from said latch ange to permit further opening movements of the parts, springs normally urging said bridge member and elevator block in directions respectively to permit the said lip and flange to engage, and manually operating means for actuating the elevator block against the force to said springs.

ALFRED M. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France 1930 

